Nickelodeon’s iCarly Is Basic Cable’s Number One Entertainment Series In May

Nickelodeon’s iCarly is basic cable’s overall number-one entertainment series with total viewers and all kid audiences for May, according to Nielsen Media Research (4/27/09-5/31/09). Starring Miranda Cosgrove, iCarly averaged almost 5.4 million total viewers for the month, surpassing programs such as USA’s WWE Entertainment, and topping every kid and tween demo (kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14). Marking the second time in six months that the series has topped all cable, iCarly‘s May performance was propelled by hit episodes like “iDate a Bad Boy” (7.2 million total viewers; May 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT), which out-delivered the NBA Playoffs (May 6) and ranked as basic cable’s number-one telecast this month with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens.

For the month overall, Nickelodeon scored three of May’s top 10 regularly scheduled programs on basic cable with total viewers, including: iCarly (#1); The Penguins of Madagascar (#4); and SpongeBob SquarePants (#6). Nick also ends the month ahead of all competition with kids, tweens and total viewers by significant leads, averaging 2.1 million total viewers and a 3.3/1.1 million kids 2-11. Year to date, Nickelodeon also maintains double and triple-digit leads over its competitors and is the number-one total day network with all key demographics (kids 2-11, kids 6-11, tweens 9-14, persons 2+).

Additionally, Nick at Nite finished May as the number-one basic cable network among Women 18-49 and the number-two network among Adults 18-49, only behind TNT. Nicktoons Networks and NOGGIN each had its most-watched May ever with key demos (kids/boys, 6-11, tweens/boys 9-14 for Nicktoons Network and kids 2-5 and persons 2+ for NOGGIN) and total viewers. Nicktoons Network averaged a 0.3/41,000 K6-11 and 140,000 total viewers (P2+), up +21% over last year. NOGGIN averaged a 2.7/270,000 K2-5 (+29% in rating), and 477,000 total viewers (P2+), up +27% over last year.

Nickelodeon was tops with kids, tweens and total viewers (P2+) for both the month and year to date:

May 2009 (source: NMR, 4/27/09-5/31/09):

Nickelodeon averaged 2.1 million total viewers, a +39% lead over The Disney Channel (1.5 million P2+) and a +132% lead over Cartoon Network (902,000 P2+).

Nickelodeon’s average of 3.3/1.1 million K2-11 marks a +32% lead over Disney (2.5/860,000 K2-11) and +154% over Cartoon (1.3/467,000 K2-11). Nick’s 2.8/593,000 million K6-11 is a +12% lead over Disney (2.5/526,000 K6-11) and +100% over Cartoon (1.4/296,000 K6-11); and its 2.1/453,000 T9-14 is a +5% lead over Disney (2.0/425,000 T9-14) and +110% over Cartoon (1.0/212,000 T9-14).

2009 Year to Date (source: NMR, 12/29/08-5/31/09):

Nickelodeon is averaging 2.2 million total viewers (P2+), a +37% lead over Disney (1.6 million P2+) and a +113% lead over Cartoon (1.0 million P2+).

Nickelodeon averages a 3.5/1.2 million kids 2-11, +30% ahead of Disney (2.7/913,000 K2-11) and +119% over Cartoon (1.6/549,000 K2-11), a 3.0/638,000 K6-11, an +11% lead over Disney (2.7/559,000 K6-11) and +76% over Cartoon (1.7/353,000 K6-11); and a 2.2/471,000 T9-14, a +5% lead over Disney (2.1/436,000 T9-14) and +83% over Cartoon (1.2/248,000 T9-14).